The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-04-16


which was like o bit of wonderland to the
brother and sister, with its glitter and fra
GRANGE, its noiseless service and garnished
viands-but though at loss as to just which
knife, fork and glass they were to use, and
quite ''aoored,' y as Jamie would have said,
by the scented finger glasses and water
carafes, and the ices in odd, fanciful
shapes, Miss Smith noticed there was no
unseemly hurry, though both were so
hungry; no offensive use Of knife or fingers
only quietdecorum and modest shyness.
After they had returned to the library
and were seated cozily by the beautiful
fireplace, Miss Smith said gently:
Tell me, Jamie" (she had caught tho
pretty nickname from his sister) show did
your father-go! Was it long sincei"
shading her eyes with fan as she spoke.
"We don't know exactly, ma'am-I'll tell
you. You see mamma was sick a long time
first, and papa took such care Of her that
after she-went he got sick, too, and couldn't
work. He was an engraver, you know, and
the close work was very bad for him.
Finally the doctors told him he must do
something different or he would die, but he
wasn't rich enough tn take us and 60
travelling. So at last he rented two little
rooms and put US in care Of the Huffstodts
(we'd lived in Jersey City before that. but
he knew about them, and thought he'd like
to have US with such good folks,) and put
some money in the bank for US, and started
with an expedition to South Americ..-
something or other sent out by the Govern
ment, and he was going to engrave the
pictures Of their reports, you see. After he
had been gone awhile the Huffstodts moved
to where we are now and the money began
to get low in the bank, and there didn't
any more letters come from papa; but that
didn't surprise US, because we knew he
was going away into the wilderness where
there weren't any post-ofices. But one day
Mr. Huffstodt brought in a paper to Celia
and me, and said: "You poor children,
what will you do!" And there was the
notice Of papa's DEATH. G. Smith, of that
very expedition--and then we knew why we
didn't get the letters any more"
He stopped, with a choke in his voice,
while the two Celias wept together.
$50 far from home-oh! my poor, poor
James" murmured the elder, clasping her
namesake closer; land what did you do
then, poor babiesr'
80, the Huffstodts were very kind; and
after while he got me this place as mes
senger-bov, so that can pay for things my
self; and we're very comfortable"
"How long since you saw-that notice,
dearl"
"About six months, and he was gone
nearly q year before that"
They sat very quiet then, and the fire
burned lower, till only mass of Goals
glowed beneath the tiles, when q quick
ring at the door-bell startled them all.
| An instant later the Ubiquitous John-a
| very interrogation point from head to foot
stood in the entrance.
'sMiss Smith, there's two men here, and
one says he would like to see his children
| if
"His childrenl' shrieked Jamie and Celia,
in chorus "Jamesl" sobbed Miss Smith,
while all three rushed into the hall
For the next few minutes not even an in
Simultaneous photographer could have done
justice to the scene-the crazy children
clinging to their father, the woman, with
clasped hands and wild, questioning eyes,
standing in the background-till the words
from Jamie 20 papal it is Miss Smith, your
cousin" caused the newcomer to bound
forward with cry Of ''Celial My Celiar'
and Ito the horror Of john clasp his mis-
tress in an ardent embrace.
But even my poor description is not so
confused as the little group which tumul-
tuously entered the library then-laughing,
talking, crying, explaining, and protesting
with running fire Of "Glorysr' from John
and 'sYahsp and "Pless my souls!' from
Mr.. Huffstodt, who had led the father
hither.
When something like quiet was restored
the matter became simple enough, however.
Mr.. Smith had written whenever possible,
but failing in that remote region to receive
the children's letter giving their change of
address, his missives had, Of course, been
misdirected and unanswered, until becom-
ing thoroughly alarmed at last, he had
thrown up his situation and started for
home, much delayed on the journey by
storms and an accident to the steamers
machinery.
Upon arriving in the city he had found
the Huffstodts by means of the directory,
only to learn that his children had beer
summoned in very strange and sudden
way to No. - on the avenue. As the Huff
stodts were already growing alarmed at
their prolonged absence, the kind, young
German had gladly fastened with him to
their rescue-''only to find yoa, Celia, whom
/ never expected to see againr'
He turned and clasped both her hands
while they stood-heart searching heartr-in
Jne glow Oh the oylng ure. Inc room, the
inmates, were forgotten, and each saw
pretty lawn, shaded by q great oak tree,
and two fgures-one q youth walking
slowly away, while the other, slender girl,
with pointing hand and blazing eyes, said
sternly, ''Go!" Did that youth-the bearded
traveller Of to-day-read the same fiat in
those eyes which now met his, or did their
tears, their softness, their wistful pleading
bid him "Stayi'
Achildish voice broke the eloquent silence,
and bridged the gulf Of eighteen years:
"But, papa, who was the ]. g. Smith that
did dies'
'O,"-the lover was father once ags.n,
though his voice had caught new, exultant
tone as he answered, the was our photo
grapher. His first name was Jasper, and he
died of swamp fever, poor fellow! Celia,
| are You glad il wasn't Il,,=Eannie z Nean=